X's & O's

X, released by Bally Midway in February 1984, is a rare and distinctive pinball machine built around a Tic-Tac-Toe theme, offering gameplay that blends the classic strategy of the board game with fast-paced pinball action. It was designed by George Christian under the tutelage of Norm Clark (an early playfield drawing had at one point been mistakenly attributed to Greg Kmiec, though Christian confirmed he used a few of Kmiec's earlier ideas). This Solid State Electronic machine features three flippers, three pop bumpers, a 3-bank of drop targets, and a kick-out hole, all built around a central Tic-Tac-Toe playfield.

What makes X stand out is how it layers the board game's strategic elements onto standard pinball mechanics: players work to claim squares in the center playfield's Tic-Tac-Toe grid while also chasing flipper- and bumper-based scoring, with audio handled by the "Cheap Squeak" sound board. With only 3,300 units produced, it's an uncommon machine that few collectors encounter.

Little else is documented about X's commercial performance or reception, but its unusual theme and gameplay hybrid make it a curiosity worth seeking out for fans of quirky 1980s Bally/Midway titles.